Mum and bub visit a rare treat this season

By
RACHAEL HOULIHAN

A MOTHER and calf have been spotted at Logans Beach after a slow start to the whale watching season.

A MOTHER and calf have been spotted at Logans Beach after a slow start to the whale watching season.

A Southern right whale with a calf at Logans Beach, the first seen this season. 140711AS70 Picture: AARON SAWALL

The ocean giants have made fleeting visits to the south-west this year, with sightings on eight separate days.

Between one and four southern right whales and humpbacks have been reported at each sighting.

The southern right cow and calf at Logans Beach were spotted at first light yesterday.

Premier Denis Napthine was in the region and said it was terrific the whales were back.

“It’s great news for the south-west,” he said.

“To actually see a mother and calf is absolutely exciting for the region and I hope it brings lots of tourists.”

Dr Napthine encouraged whale watchers to venture to the south-west to get a glimpse.

“I would urge people to go down and have a look at the whales,” he said.

“It’s always exciting when the southern right whales come back.”

Numbers of sightings fluctuate from year to year, but there has been slightly less this year than recent years. The whales appear to have a two/three-year calving cycle, which means the numbers of whales coming closer to shore can vary each year.

Reproductively mature females that calve in Australian waters are rarely recorded on the coast between calving years, which may account for the lower numbers of sightings this year.